B3 Haruka YOKOI
I am a member of U-MiC, which is a cappella club at Utsunomiya University, and I have kept several activities there. Today, I would like to introduce what I do.
In the beginning, I will tell you, "What a cappella is." A cappella is singing without any musical accompaniment. Unlike classical choral music, which requires a microphone, people in other roles, such as voice percussion, join the chorus. The a cappella group consists of five or six members. In addition to the main vocalist, who is responsible for the main melody, three to four group members participate in the chorus. A bass part and voice percussionist for the rhythm is also crucial to a cappella group with an ideal cappella. Not all groups have a bass part or voice percussion; the groups are made up according to the characteristics of the members and the mood of the music they want to perform.
Now, I would like to describe our annual schedule.
From March to April, to catch many members, we make a plan to greet new students. Our club welcomes students interested in music and a cappella and those with no musical experience, so now most of our members are experiencing a cappella for the first time. This year, I organized a welcome party for new students. We held special live concerts for new students; then six groups showed their performances. Aside from these concerts, we had activities like a picnic, a bowling tournament, and karaoke. Thanks to the efforts of the circle members, more than thirty students joined the membership.
After the season of welcoming new students, we prepare for two events at the university in the summer. The first one is the "Noryo Festival," held in June or July by Co-op Creative Staff, one of the clubs at Utsunomiya University. Four or five groups can participate in the events, so we choose the group that can participate by watching their pre-stage. This event is one of the chances to show what a cappella is and what we do in daily life outside.
Another one is "U-MiC Summer Live". This event, held in the second half of July, is the first opportunity for new members to show their practice results. They start a band after the welcome party and keep practicing for the summer live. This summer's live event is one of the biggest in U-MiC, so members enjoy singing, talking, and wearing unique clothes. At last year's event, a group sings "Natsumatsuri" by Whiteberry wearing Yukata.
In the second semester, the most significant event was the cultural festival of Utsunomiya University, in which audience members from other universities and strangers sang in front of the audience. Ex-members visit the festival every year and enjoy talking and listening to our performances. Only a few groups can get a chance to perform on a main stage, so many of them practice hard and try to improve either skill. Singing on the stage is very nervous, but the view from the stage is very spectacular and valuable.
The club members are so close regardless of age, so the live performance for the graduates is very touching. This live performance, held annually in March, showcases songs and, surprises and special performances for the graduates.
In addition to these on-campus activities, many members participate in outside activities. The club with the most interaction is SEO, a cappella club at Hakuo University. We hold an annual exchange meeting where mixed bands are formed and presented. We also interact with TAP, a cappella club for working adults, and we can learn a lot from their experiences.
I have introduced activities related to live performances, but we also do activities besides a cappella, such as training camps and game tournaments. Moreover, their activities are not limited to within the club, but they are also very active, going out to eat with other club members and forming bands with alums. This is one of the things I am proud of about our club and why I want to continue. If you are interested in U-MiC, please come to our next event! Thank you for reading.
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